Animated toy



April 18, 1950 J. 5. LOONEY ANIMATED TOY Filed Oct. 5, 1945 2Shegts-Sheet l f mi INVENTOR. Josqo/v 5'. Lao/veg W J. S. LOONEY 'April18, 1950 ANIMAfIED TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1945 INVENTOR.

y 6 H. 0 L a M e 6 J W and is in simulation of the upper bill of a fowl,such as a duck, which the device in the present embodiment of theinvention is adapted to simulate.

Extending within the socket I8 below the member I9 is a second elongatedmember 26 which, at a desired point inwardly of its inner end, issupported for rocking movement upon a'pintle 2i disposed transverselythrough the head member l4 and the member 29. This member 20 is of alength to extend outwardly beyond the head member 14 and is insimulation of the lower bill of a fowl.

The rear portion of the member 20 has its upper face disposed on asuitable bevel 22 whereby the extent of swinging movement of the outerend portion of the member 29 away from the outer portion of the member19 is limited.

The portion of the member 20 inwardly of its supporting pintle 2|extends inwardly of the member l9 and is suitably anchored, as at 23, toan end portion of a strand 24, preferably of metal, possessing requisiterigidity and flexibility. This strand 24 extends inwardly and downwardlyof the member ID and out through a suitably positioned opening 25provided in the wall of the member ID and anchored, as at 26, to thefront section I of the body member B.

This strand 24 is of such a length and also of such rigidity to causethe outer or bill portion of the member 20 to have closing movement withrespect to the member l9, as the member l moves outwardly of the bodymember B, and to have movement in the opposite direction when the memberI!) has returning movement within the body member B. This movement ofthe member 20 serves to further increase the simulation of the fowl withcorresponding increase in the amusement value of the device.

Snugly engaged within the inner portion of the bowl 3 of the rearsection 2 and overlying the chamber 4 is a metallic diaphragm 27.Suitably secured to the diaphragm 21 at the axial center thereof is agoose-neck bar 28 including a laterally directed part b. The outerportion of this part b has secured thereto an end portion of a flatspring 29 which is disposed toward the axle or shaft 6.

This spring 29 is of a length to have its outer or free end portionintersect the path of travel of the teeth 30 extending outwardly fromthe agitator member 3| fixed to the shaft or axle 6 for rotationtherewith. The teeth 30 of the member 3| coact with the spring 29 tocreate such vibration of the diaphragm 21 to produce the audible signalsdesired.

The lower or under portion of the front section I of the body member Bhas disposed through the wall thereof the suitably spaced openings 32 toallow for the escape of the sounds created from the vibration of thediaphragm 21.

The rear portion of the section 2 of the body member B is provided witha pocket 33 of desired dimensions and which, as herein disclosed, opensinto the central portion of the chamber 4. This pocket 33 has placedtherein a balancing weight 34 to ofiset the weight of the forward endportion of the device and thereby facilitate the desired travel of thetoy.

The means of locomotion of the toy may be manual or mechanical as, ofcourse, the manner whereby the device is put into transit forms no partof the present invention. In the present embodiment of the invention,however, the forward section I of the body member B carries a screw-eye35 to which a tow line is adapted to be secured.

The rear portion of the body member B is normally supported by a rearground-engaging wheel 36 preferably of a relatively small diameter andwhich is rotatably mounted upon a U-shaped bracket bearing 31 carried bythe rear section 2 and positioned at a point below the axial centerthereof.

The rear portion of the section 2 of the body member B also has carriedthereby an upstanding block 38 in simulation of a tail for the fowl.

It is to be stated that the various parts of the device as hereinincluded may be colored as desired but it is to be understood that theinvention is not to be limited in any way to any particular colorscheme.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that ananimated toy constructed in accordance with my invention is particularlywell adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility withwhich it may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

1. A sounding toy comprising a body having a chamber formed therein, ashaft extending transversely of the body through the chamber, supportingwheels upon the outer ends of the shaft, said chamber at one end beingof reduced diameter to form a smaller end portion, a vibrating diaphragmoverlying the portion of the chamber which is of reduced diameter andsecured around its periphery to the wall of the chamber around saidreduced portion, a relatively long resilient element connected at oneend to the diaphragm and extending toward and terminating short of saidshaft, and means carried by and turned with the shaft for intermittentlyengaging the adjacent end of said resilient element to imparttherethrough vibration to the diaphragm.

2. A sounding toy of the character stated in claim 1 wherein the saidresilient element is connected with the diaphragm by means of a rightangle bar, one end of the bar being secured to the center of thediaphragm and the other end of the bar extending across the face of thediaphragm to one side thereof and having the said end of the resilientelement end secured thereto.

3. A sounding toy of the character described in claim 1 wherein themeans for intermittently engaging and vibrating said resilient element,comprises a wheel having an interrupted series of teeth projectingradially therefrom.

JOSEPH s. LOONEY. I

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,595,407 Jones Aug. 10, 19261,625,758 Wynn Apr. 19, 1927 1,668,005 Daugherty May 1, 1928 1,701,734Stephens Feb. 12, 1929 1,718,846 Freundlich June 25, 1929 1,890,288 GrafDec. 6, 1932 1,894,144 Anderson Jan. 10, 1933

